Saints open the second half vs. Titans with a takeaway

Here’s how you reintroduce yourself after missing time with an injury. The New Orleans Saints opened the second half against the Tennessee Titans with a takeaway. Monty Rice was held out of practice the last week while on the mend with an ankle injury but he was able to dress for Sunday’s preseason game, and he made the most of that opportunity.

Rice tackled Titans running back Jabari Small and punched the ball loose. His teammate, rookie safety Millard Bradford, recovered it and set the Saints offense up in Tennessee territory. It was a great play by both players as they compete for roster spots ahead of cut-downs on Tuesday.

And that competition is fierce. The top of the depth chart at both linebacker and safety appears to be set, so guys like Rice and Bradford are fighting for the few vacancies remaining on the back end of the depth chart or the practice squad. But clutch plays like this will do a lot to help their cases for those jobs.